Heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger ( 1 ), in particular, a gas cooler for a vehicle air-conditioning unit, comprising several flat tubes ( 2 ) arranged in two or more parallel rows, a collector tube ( 6 ), with one or more longitudinal separating walls ( 12 ), running along the longitudinal axis of the collector tube ( 6 ), dividing the collector tube ( 6 ) into two or more collector channels, whereby the collector tube ( 6 ) is embodied from two metal sheets ( 8 ) and openings ( 4 ) are provided in at least one of the metal sheets ( 8 ), for accommodating the ends of the flat tubes ( 2 ). Each longitudinal separating wall ( 12 ) is provided with tongue-like projections ( 14 ), arranged in grooves ( 16 ) in at least one of the metal sheets ( 8 ) and fixed on the outer side of the metal sheet ( 8 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger, in particular a gas cooler for a vehicle air-conditioning unit, having several flat tubes arranged parallel to one another in two or more rows and a collector tube, which exhibits one or more longitudinal separating walls arranged along the longitudinal axis of the collector tube, subdividing the collector tube into two or more collector channels, wherein the collector tube is formed from two metal sheets, in that openings to accept the ends of the flat tubes are provided in at least one of the metal sheets, and in that each longitudinal separating wall is provided with tongue-like projections, which are arranged in grooves in at least one of the metal sheets and are fixed to the outside of the metal sheet,
 wherein the longitudinal separating wall in the area of the openings in one of the metal sheets exhibits recesses which function as a stop for the tube, 
 wherein the recesses are embodied with a tear-shaped form, and 
 wherein said tear-shaped recesses comprise recesses having an open first end having a first width and an inner portion having a second width greater than said first width and a closed, curved second end. 
 
     
     
       2. A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the recesses exhibit an inlet area or an outlet area for the flat tube. 
     
     
       3. A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal separating wall adjacent to the recesses exhibits further overflow openings. 
     
     
       4. A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two metal sheets overlap with their longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       5. A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal separating wall is embodied with tongue-like projections in the form of a tie bolt separating wall comprising several individual tie bolts arranged parallel to one another. 
     
     
       6. A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the number of tongue-like projections corresponds to the number of tie bolts. 
     
     
       7. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of flat tubes arranged parallel to one another in two or more rows; 
 a collector tube comprising first and second metal sheets, the first metal sheet including a plurality of openings configured to receive ends of the plurality of flat tubes and also including a plurality of grooves spaced from the openings; and 
 a longitudinal separating wall in the collector tube comprising a third, planar, metal sheet arranged along a longitudinal axis of the collector tube and subdividing the collector tube into two collector channels, the longitudinal separating wall including a first plurality of planar tongue-like projections extending through the grooves in the first metal sheet, 
 wherein the longitudinal separating wall includes a second plurality of planar tongue-like projections extending away from the first plurality of planar tongue-like projections through grooves in the second metal sheet, and 
 wherein the longitudinal separating wall includes tear-shaped recesses having an open first end having a first width and an inner portion having a second width greater than said first width and a closed, curved second end. 
 
     
     
       8. The heat exchanger of  claim 7  wherein the planar, tongue-like projections are bent over an outside surface of the first metal sheet.